Modern Dress? Yes; but Millets!
Just back from Die Valkyrie at the Coliseum; the ENO’s latest production, curiously deciding to start its sojourn into the Ring Cycle at part 2 (no, no one seems to know why).
Yes, it is beautifully sung (in the main), yes it is well acted (if at times strangely directed, - I’ve not seen Brünnhilde played as a closely cropped, close to prepubescent before).
The sets are (at the end of act II and the whole of Act III) non-existent (just grey curtains) – and the costumes are, well weird; Brünnhilde wearing leary basket-ball kit with huge trainers, the other Valkyrie in rain ponchos and most of the principals togged out in whatever they wear to paint the house (although Wotan does channel his inner lumberjack).
They decided (Valkyrie apart) ‘modern dress’ – but after that it was anything goes.
At the start of Act III the Valkyrie move in at almost a literal snails pace to retrieve the dead warriors (winched awkwardly into the flies) – their horses are actors wearing the front end only, and having to stand around without really moving for a considerable time – which must be very wearing.
So, this was a production which (unlike Hockney’s Rakes Progress) seemed to say – ‘move along, nothing to see here…’. Which, considering the musical quality, was a shame.
[NB they had, apparently, planned a spectacular ‘fire surrounding Brünnhilde ending’ – but 3 technical rehearsals each of which nearly burnt the theatre down persuaded them against this. They have, as yet, found no replacement].
It’s close to a 5 hour run (with a 40 and a 30 minute interval) – but – staging apart – we still enjoyed the music (and the acting).